Design for a Stage Set at the Opéra, Paris 1830 - 1890

Eugène Cicéri made this stage set design for the Paris Opéra with graphite and watercolor on paper. The architectural elements appear solid due to the artist's use of shading. It is crucial to remember that the real magic of the opera happens not just on the stage, but behind the scenes, in workshops and studios like Cicéri’s. These were hives of activity, where skilled artisans labored to transform sketches like this into immersive environments. Consider the range of skills required: carpentry to build the sets, painting to create the illusion of depth and texture, and rigging to move set pieces on and off stage. In its own way, this modest drawing is a testament to the collaborative nature of theatrical production. It reminds us that even the grandest artistic achievements often rely on the contributions of many hands. The final stage set is where art meets engineering, skill meets imagination, and ultimately, where labor meets spectacle.